Guest iHound Posted September 1, 2009 Share Posted September 1, 2009 (edited) My grandfather's Pomeranian, Kalua, has almost no fur from her chest back. She's had this fur problem for the past 5 years I would say (she's 9). We tried melatonin a few years ago when she lost her fur the first time and it all grew back but within a year or so she lost it all again. It's not a thyroid problem as she currently takes a thyroid pill and was just tested to make sure her levels were normal (which they were) She's been tested for everything under the sun and the vet can't figure out why she won't grow any fur. The fur that was there before, started to clump up and eventually I was able to just pull it out as if the hair was dead inside the follicle. Now she just has these short coarse strands on her little naked areas but she won't grow anything more than that. She's otherwise a very healthy dog but I mean she is a Pomeranian- she's supposed to look like a snowball! Any ideas as to what could cause this? (Talk about giving the camera some tude'!) Edited September 1, 2009 by iHound Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fudge Posted September 1, 2009 Share Posted September 1, 2009 No ideas, but my neighbor's Pom has the same thing going on only not quite that bad. When I see her I will ask if she knows what causes it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Energy11 Posted September 1, 2009 Share Posted September 1, 2009 Does she have anyother symptoms like drinking, eating and peeing a lot? Cushings Disease can cause hair loss on the trunk like that. Poor baby! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest iHound Posted September 1, 2009 Share Posted September 1, 2009 Nope, no excessive eating/drinking/or peeing. I've looked up "black skin disease" and it seems to match except for the fact that her skin has never darkened. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest WhenIGiveIn Posted September 1, 2009 Share Posted September 1, 2009 I hate to tell you but its a condition in pomeranians called black skin disease. It doesnt effect them health wise but it does obviously effect their apperance. There have been several studies done trying to pin point the problem and the find a cure. However the biggest problem is that you dont know if girls carry it until you spay them and once a male is fixed they grow their hair back. I can go on and on and on about the subject. If you have any specific questions let me know but unfortunatly there is no way to get the hair back. The only thing that will fix this is honest breeders being honest with everyone including themselves. oh it also goes by another name alopeicia X you can probably google either and get some information this is a pretty good article http://www.purinaproclub.com/public/resour...eyArticles=1039 Oh and I just wanted to add that not all lines and not all poms carry this disease. I have been breeding pomeranians for 18 years. Over those 18 years purchased one dog that came down with black skin. His litter sister also carried the condition. Fortunatly for me they showed signs early and were never introduced in to my breeding program. The biggest problem is that there are many dogs that are carriers that don't show symptoms and when bred to the right dogs there are no problems but when bred to the wrong lines you end up with bald dogs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest iHound Posted September 1, 2009 Share Posted September 1, 2009 (edited) What a bummer. I had looked it up before but most of the articles I read stated that the dog would have darkening of the skin which she's never had. Is there a chance the melatonin could work again as it worked before? I think she started losing the fur again after we stopped giving it to her. She's been getting it again but I'm not sure it's the same dosage. ETA: She was purchased from a breeder who was relatively new and probably had no clue if her dogs carried the disease or not. Edited September 1, 2009 by iHound Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valencia Posted September 1, 2009 Share Posted September 1, 2009 You could start telling people she is a Chinese Crested. I'm sorry she has lost her hair, but she is very very cute even without it. Quote Shannon, mom to Shae, Jesse James and Linus the Chinese Cresteds,and bridge angels Sydney Sue and Stewart. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest iHound Posted September 1, 2009 Share Posted September 1, 2009 :lol I might as well! She's definitely a cutie even without the fur but people always think something is seriously wrong with her. I can't tell you how many times I've heard "Oh my gosh, does she have cancer?!?" She's the toothless, furless wonder! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest kydie Posted September 1, 2009 Share Posted September 1, 2009 I think she is cute too, Thanks to WhenIGiveIn, for the info. I don't own a pom, never had that chance, but my neighbor is thinking about one and I will share that info with her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahicks51 Posted September 1, 2009 Share Posted September 1, 2009 Any chance anyone has looked at whether the topical hair regrowth formulations do anything- to just a small patch, even if they're safe for dogs- with this disorder? It may sound amusing, but if something like minoxidil were effective in regrowing hair in a small patch, it could be diagnostic in terms of figuring out the cause of the disorder. Quote Coco (Maze Cocodrillo) Minerva (Kid's Snipper) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burpdog Posted September 1, 2009 Share Posted September 1, 2009 I wonder if Transfer Factor will help her. Quote Diane & The Senior Gang Burpdog Biscuits Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaryJane Posted September 1, 2009 Share Posted September 1, 2009 If this happens to females when they are spayed and fixes it with the males when they are neutered, then the problem seems to have an origin with the hormones. With this in mind, maybe you want to discuss with the vet whether estrogen could possibly help the problem. BUT, please keep in mind that giving estrogen could cause a host of other problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest iHound Posted September 2, 2009 Share Posted September 2, 2009 I think she is cute too, Thanks to WhenIGiveIn, for the info. I don't own a pom, never had that chance, but my neighbor is thinking about one and I will share that info with her. Poms make great little dogs if they're socialized properly. They definitely seem to act more like a big dog than most other toy breeds. I think if your neighbor was to do her research and get a Pom from a good breeder, the chances of alopecia are reduced. My aunt has Poms as well and bought them from a sleazy breeder. Her previous dog from this breeder had the alopecia and one of the dogs she has now has it too- both females. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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